Alexis Harrison Running For Fairfield Zoning Commission

FAIRFIELD, CT — It's election season in Fairfield, and Patch is here to help you get to know the candidates running for local office in 2021 before voters head to the polls Nov. 2.

Questionnaire responses appear as submitted by candidates.

Republican Alexis Harrison is running for Town Plan & Zoning — two-year term in Fairfield.

Occupation: Vice President, Global Pr Agency

Family: Single; three generations of my family currently residing in Fairfield

Experience: Board of Assessment Appeals, Past RTM member, and FairTV Commission

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The increase of dense development, the need to grow our commercial tax base while balancing that with protecting our natural resources, and and preparing for climate change and sustainability.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I am the only candidate for the 2-year term position who does not conduct development business in the Town of Fairfield. I feel strongly that zoning commissioners should not conduct development business in our Town as the public should have faith that laws and regulations will be strictly adhered to and not weighted in favor of any commissioner’s line of work. Decisions rendered by TPZ should reflect our values and the regulations.

Accomplishments:

I want you to know that I’m eager to rise to the challenge: As a 4-term RTM representative, a current member of the Board of Assessment Appeals, co-president of Fairfielders Protecting Land and Neighborhoods (known as FairPLAN), an active member of CT 169 Strong, and as Vice President of my public relations firm, I have a wealth of experience in listening, decision-making and acting.

A common thread in all these venues is the frustration of the public in having their voices heard and their concerns addressed.

As an active member of CT 169 Strong, I helped educate the public and advocate for local control over our land. I do not accept the premise that Hartford knows best when it comes to our nd-use decisions.

As part of FairPLAN, I’ve been able to help neighborhood groups have a stronger voice with land use commissions- whether researching, assisting in the public hearing process, writing letters and filing interventions.

Zoning commissions tend to attract attorneys and real estate professionals. But our TPZ also needs to have residents that understand and want to address neighborhood concerns and environmental needs, and with a fresh outlook.

Other issues:

Zoning commissions tend to attract attorneys and real estate professionals. But our TPZ also needs to have residents that understand and want to address neighborhood concerns and environmental needs and with a fresh outlook.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

While planning and zoning may not be the most interesting topic to many — make no mistake — TPZ decisions are critical to our town’s future and the quality of life of our residents.

Land use decisions are the foundation for so many important goals- from increasing our commercial tax base, to helping seniors remain in town, to diversifying our housing stock, to ensuring the small-town atmosphere that we love, to protecting our natural resources and planning for climate change and sustainability.

Complicating our achieving these goals are both old and new state mandates — for example the restrictions imposed by 8-30g, which enables dense development without regard to zoning regulations, and and the ongoing trend in State laws shifting control over our land use from our Town to the State.